Classification

A
review is made of all the material collected about the prisoner, including
the presentence report. A classification committee, which includes a custody
staff member, makes the final decision at what level (there are five classifications
levels - I through V) to house the prisoner based on recommendations
made by a processor who has evaluated all the reports and test results.

The major concerns
for the classification committee are the potential for escape and misbehavior
while in prison. An individual's past escape history from custody is examined
along with behavior while in jail. Enemies, if known and identified by
either staff or the prisoner, are kept separated throughout their incarceration
while those offenders needing special protection are assigned to "protection
units" within various prisons.

Other arrangements
can also be made to accommodate special needs prisoners such as placement
in a federal prison for those offenders who would be difficult to protect
in the Michigan system. Attempts are also made to classify the individual
to an institution that offers programming that can meet the prisoner's
special needs such as substance abuse, sex offender counseling, basic
education or vocational training.